
eousness; but when pride
and ambition are cherished, and men exalt their own
theories above the word of God, then intelligence can accomplish greater harm
than ignorance. Thus the false science of the present day, which undermines
faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the accept-
ance of the papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowl-
edge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages."—The
Great
Controversy,
page 573.
7.
What results inevitably follow when people cease to worship their
Creator? Rom. 1:21-23, 28.
8.
How does Paul define covetousness? Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5.
NOTE.—"It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to
fashion an idol of wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God,
Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false character. With many, a philo-
sophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as
He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped
by but few. Thousands deify nature, while they deny the God of nature.
Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as
verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many
professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists,—the god
of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some
theological institutions,—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia."
—The Great Controversy,
page 583.
The Triumph of Truth
9.
How does Peter connect the rejection of the message about the sec-
ond coming of Christ with false scientific theories which deny the Flood and
turn creation into evolution? 2 Peter 3:3-7.
NorE.—The
leading teachers of evolution have been outspoken in scoffing
at the idea that the world is soon to end by destruction, predicting on the other
hand that man is destined to progress indefinitely in the future. Charles Darwin,
in the very closing sentences of his
Origin of Species,
argues (just as Peter pre-
dicted) that since no great cataclysm has ever desolated the whole world, "we
may look with some confidence to a secure future of great length. And as
natural selection works solely by and for the good of each being, all corporeal
and mental endowments will tend to progress toward perfection."
10.
What solemn warning is given in Ezekiel regarding God's dealings
with the idolaters of the last days? Ezek. 8:15, 16; 9:4-6, 11.
Nor2.—Of the latter-day application of
this passage, Mrs. E. G. White
writes, after quoting Ezekiel 9:1-6:
"Jesus is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary, to put
on garments of vengeance, and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those
who have not responded to the light God has given them. . . . The prophet,
looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. The nations
of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The choicest of
Heaven's blessings have been given them, but increased pride, covetousness,
idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude, are written against them.
They are fast closing up their account with
God."—Testimonies, vol.
5, pp.
207-209.
Of those "who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God,
and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would re-
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